Varanasi, India
By Jasmine A
Location
Varanasi is located in north-west India near Chhittupur and along the Ganges River. It is west of Pakistan, South-West of China. On the left side of India is the Arabian Sea and to the right of India is the Bay of Bengal. It is very important that the city of Varanasi is on the Ganges River because the river is used for many holy purposes.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
This temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and is the holiest places in Varanasi. This temple has been destroyed and rebuild many times. The current building of the temple was built in 1780. this temple is the most important place of worship to the Hindus people.
Durga Temple
The Durga Temple is located along the Ganges River and is also called the "Monkey Temple" for the population of holy monkeys that surround the temple. This temple is very important to Varanasi. This temple was constructed in the eighteenth century. the red tint comes from ochre. ledgend has it that this temple belongs to the goddes Durga who protects the city of Varanasi from the South.
As you can see, the city of Varanasi is very dirty, polluted place. Human waste is dumped into the Ganges River. Half or fully burnt human bodies are also placed in the river after they have died. The people of Varanasi believe it is sacred to be burned then placed in the holy river. Many people get sick and have infection from bathing in the river.
Dead Body
This is an example of the half-burned bodies in the Ganges River that cause much of the pollution in the river.
pollution
As you can see the pollution is a mix of human remains, human waste and trash.